Four secrets to a strong immune system: (1) Avoid sugar---the amount of sugar in one soft drink suppresses immune function for up to 12 hours. (2) Support the health of your intestinal tract by taking a good probiotic---up 70% to 80% of our immune system is in our intestinal tract. (3) Get plenty of sleep. (4) Find effective ways to manage your stress.

Gift Certificates:  Available from my office, for low force, comfortable, full-body balancing with Activator Method of chiropractic care. Introducing people to my thorough, precise, Activator Method is one of my favorite things!

 Happy Holidays! Wishing everyone peace, safety, and good health throughout the Holiday Season and in the coming New Year.

Want to help sea otters and other wildlife at our local Elkhorn Slough? Now through Dec. 31, your donation will be doubled:  http://www.elkhornslough.org/  Check out the Otter Cam at Elkhorn Slough National Estaurine Research Reserve:  http://www.elkhornslough.org/ottercam/

Head-forward postures can cause, and constantly aggravate, neck tension and pain. Patient education and ergonomic counseling are vital parts of every patient's treatment plan in my practice.

Supporting Pollinators

Did you know that old hollow stems of sunflowers from your garden can make welcome homes for  bees? To help support our pollinator friends, save those old sunflower stalks. Here's what to do:  http://www.xerces.org/in-your-pollinator-garden-november-2013/

Bumping your head can be more than just an embarrassment or a temporary discomfort. It can disturb the cranial rhythms, perhaps setting you up for future headaches. Cranial balancing is included in every treatment in my office.

Healing of tendonitis, which is inflammation of a tendon, may be impeded by inflammatory foods, such as sugar, damaged fats (such as vegetable oils used for cooking) or gluten-containing foods. What we're eating may be promoting inflammation in our bodies.

With the coming of winter, and cold and flu season, it's a good time to include a little organic, unrefined coconut oil in our diet every day. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is anti-viral.

"Ball and Saucer"

Unlike the hip joint, which is the nice, tight fit of a ball-and-socket, the shoulder is more like a "ball-and-saucer"---the fit is more shallow. While this allows for a wider range of motion, it also makes the shoulder more vulnerable to misalignment or dislocation. As an ACTIVATOR Chiropractor, I am trained to evaluate the multiple articulations of the shoulder complex, and to make precise corrections if needed.

Muscle "Splinting"

Our bodies automatically tighten muscles if we're injured or in pain. It's a built-in response; the body is trying to "fix" itself. I call this muscle "splinting." Correcting the underlying framework---your bones and joints---allows the muscles to begin to relax, and return to equilibrium. If the muscles need a little extra help, I may include some myofascial release.

Elders

ACTIVATOR Chiropractic method is particularly appropriate for elders. The gentle, specific, precise adjustments are made without discomfort to the patient. I enjoy working with elders, and my full-body balancing helps relieve joint fixations and misalignments, and helps keep elders mobile and active.

Bump on the Head

Ever bump your head on a car or cabinet door? Think it's just a minor irritation or embarrassment? It can actually upset your cranial rhythms, the subtle rhythmic movements of the bones in your head. Checking and balancing the cranial rhythms is something I include in every patient visit. If you bump your head, you should have your cranial rhythms checked.

What's That Crunch?

If you feel a "crunch" in your knee when you crouch or squat, you may have the start of a degenerative condition called chondromalacia patella. It's often caused by abnormal tracking of the patella, or kneecap. If this is happening, I adjust the kneecap and give the patient exercises to do at home to help keep the kneecap tracking normally.

The "Sit Bone"

The "Sit Bone," technically called the ischial tuberosity, is part of the pelvic structure; it's literally where you feel the pressure of your body weight when you sit. It can get stressed out of alignment if the pelvis becomes distorted, and be very uncomfortable. As an Advanced Proficiency Rated ACTIVATOR Chiropractor, I correct this when I balance the pelvis.

Ankle Sprain

Turning the foot inward (inversion) is the most common kind of ankle sprain. One result is a misalignment of the talus, a bone in the foot. Correcting this misalignment helps the sprain to heal faster, helps the pain, and helps your gait return to normal.

Ribs in a Twist

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  Did you know that your whole rib cage can get twisted? I often see this when the patient has been sick with a cough, has fallen, or has lifted something in an imbalanced way. Think of it as a kind of torquing: ribs on one side get pushed upward, while ribs on the opposite side may be pushed downward. You can imagine how uncomfortable this can be. I have ACTIVATOR chiropractic adjustments for this that work beautifully!

Kinematic Chain

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  Yes, "the thigh bone's connected to the knee bone, the knee bone's connected to the-----" etc. It's true: everything's connected, in what's biomechanically known as a "kinematic chain." So if you come in with hip pain, I'm going to also check your pelvis, knee, ankle, and foot. If you have knee pain, I will likewise check your lower extremity above and below your knee, as well as your pelvis. Unless the whole kinematic chain is corrected, you're not likely to get lasting relief.

Giving and Receiving

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  My chiropractors helped me so much, years ago when I suffered five whiplash injuries in auto accidents (none my fault). Later, my life path led me to become a Doctor of Chiropractic, and now it's my turn to give back, to help other people in pain. My ACTIVATOR Method is gentle, low-force, precise, and comfortable for people of all ages.

Torticollis

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  Torticollis , aka "wry neck," is a painful pulling of the head to one side, often associated with severe spasm of neck muscles. Its cause is not well understood, and relief can be challenging, even with medication. Sometimes Botox injections are tried. There are no guarantees, but I try to help any patient who is suffering. I have had good results with torticollis with a patient who had been in agony with it for months. The treatment plan must be comprehensive, flexible, and carefully designed and monitored.